Helleborus plant named ‘MONOBYRN2’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Helleborus  cultivar named ‘MONOBYRN2’ is disclosed, characterized by distinctive pure white sepals with vibrant red-purple veins. Flowers produce a double or triple row of sepals. The new cultivar is a  Helleborus , suitable for ornamental garden purposes.

Latin name of the genus and species: Helleborus hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘MONOBYRN2’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar was selected by the inventor, Richard Wells among aplanting of seedling Helleborus hybrida. Seed and pollen parents areunidentified Helleborus hybrida. This new variety was discoveredFebruary 2012 as a single plant in a field of Helleborus hybridaseedlings in Salem, Oreg.

After identifying the new variety as a potentially interestingselection, the inventor first organized propagation of ‘MONOBYRN2’ byshoot tissue culture at a commercial laboratory in Oregon, during 2012.The inventor continued controlled testing and propagation, assessingstability of the unique characteristics of this variety. Severalgenerations have been reproduced and have shown that the unique featuresof this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘MONOBYRN2’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘MONOBYRN2’ These characteristics in combinationdistinguish ‘MONOBYRN2’ as a new and distinct Helleborus cultivar:

-   -   1. Distinctive white flowers with pink picotee marginal coloring    -   2. Vibrant pink veins on both sides of sepals.    -   3. Double flowers.

COMPARISON TO PARENT VARIETY

The new variety is distinguished from unidentified parent variety by theunique large double and flower coloring of white with red-purple veins.No other varieties in the field of unnamed, unpatented Helleborushybrida plants showed this unique coloring, together with a large doubleflower.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘MONOBYRN2’ can be compared to the commercial variety Helleborus‘Picotee Lady’, unpatented. Plants of the new cultivar ‘MONOBYRN2’ aresimilar to plants of ‘Picotee Lady’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics. Plants of the new cultivar ‘MONOBYRN2’ however, differin the following:

-   -   1. The new variety produces a double whorl of sepals, this        comparator produces a single whorl of sepals.    -   2. Sepal coloration of the new variety is more pure white,        compared to the green-white sepal coloration of this comparator.    -   3. Stamen coloration of the new variety is cream colored,        compared to yellow stamens of this comparator.

‘MONOBYRN2’ can be compared to the commercial variety Helleborus ‘DoubleEllen Picotee’, unpatented. Plants of the new cultivar ‘MONOBYRN2’ aresimilar to plants of ‘Double Ellen Picotee’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics. Plants of the new cultivar ‘MONOBYRN2’ however, differin the following:

-   -   1. Mature sepal coloration of the new variety is white with pink        venation. The comparator sepal coloration is white with        Greyed-Purple or Greyed-Red venation.    -   2. Plants of the new variety are taller than plants of this        comparator.

‘MONOBYRN2’ can be compared to the commercial variety Helleborus‘MONOBYRN1’, co-pending, having application Ser. No. 14/999,762. Plantsof the new cultivar ‘MONOBYRN2’ are similar to plants of ‘MONOBYRN1’ inmost horticultural characteristics. Plants of the new cultivar‘MONOBYRN2’ however, differ in the following:

-   -   1. Flowers of ‘MONOBYRN1’ have distinctive large, dark        nectaries, ‘MONOBYRN2’ produces smaller nectaries of        yellow-green flushed greyed-purple.    -   2. Flowers of ‘MONOBYRN2’ are double, plants of this comparator        produce single flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Helleborus ‘MONOBYRN2’ showing the colors as true as is reasonablypossible with colored reproductions of this type. The figures depictflowers at various stages of maturity, on plants of approximately 18months. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the colorvalues cited in the detailed botanical description which accuratelydescribes the color of ‘MONOBYRN2’.

FIG. 1 shows a close-up of a mature flower.

FIG. 2 depicts a mature flower seen from the reverse, showing theexterior of the sepals.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘MONOBYRN2’ plants grown outdoors in SalemOreg. Plants are approximately 1 year old, in a 1 gallon nurserycontainer. Measurements and numerical values represent averages oftypical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Helleborus hybrida ‘MONOBYRN2’.

PROPAGATION

-   Typically by shoot tissue culture.-   Root description: Single main root, moderate branching of short    lateral roots. Cream to tan in color, not accurately measured with    an R.H.S. chart.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Moderate.-   Height: Approximately 40 cm.-   Plant spread: Approximately 40 cm.-   Branching characteristics: No true branching. Leaves emerge direct    from base of plant, or infrequently occur directly on the flowering    stem.-   Age of plant described: Approximately 1 year.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Shape.—Compound palmate.        -   Quantity per stem.—1.        -   Length.—11 to 14.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—15.0 cm.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 20 basal leaves, per plant.-   Leaflets:    -   -   Quantity.—Average 5 to 7.        -   Shape.—Outermost leaflets elliptic. Center leaflets broadly            elliptic to spatulate.        -   Arrangement.—Radial.        -   Average length.—Average 8.0 to 12.0 cm.        -   Average width.—Average 2.1 to 4.0 cm.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Sharply serrate.        -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Glabrous.        -   Appearance of top surface.—Matte.        -   Appearance of bottom surface.—Matte.        -   Aspect.—Flat to very slightly reflexed downward.        -   Color.—Mature Leaflet: Upper side: Near RHS Green 137A.            Under side: Near RHS Green 137C. Immature Leaflet: Upper            side: Near RHS Green 137B. Under side: Near RHS Green 137D.        -   Venation.—Type: Palmate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 145A. Venation color under side: Center vein            near RHS Yellow-Green N144A, lateral veins near Yellow-Green            147A. Foliage durability: Foliage has above average            resistance to environmental stresses, including mechanical            damage.        -   Petiole.—Length: Average range 18 to 25 cm. Diameter: 0.5 to            0.9 cm. Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145A. Texture:            Pronounced ridges, glabrous. Aspect: Slightly arched.        -   Stipules.—Not observed.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Winter.-   Inflorescence type and habit: Singly occurring radial flowers. Half    dome shaped flower with upward curve. Typically flowers have a    double whorl of sepals. Petals are modified into nectaries.-   Flower longevity on plant: Approximately 2 weeks.-   Quantity of flowers: Approximately 15 to 25, depending on    environmental conditions, during peak flowering.-   Flower size:    -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 6.5 cm.        -   Height.—Average range 3.7 cm.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 5 to 15 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.3 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong and very flexible.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Aspect.—Slightly undulating.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Spherical.        -   Length.—Approximately 3.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 2.5 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green-White 157A.        -   Rate of opening.—Approximately 3 to 7 days from color            flushed bud to open flower.-   Sepals:    -   -   Quantity.—Typically 18, 6 large outer sepals, 12 smaller            inner.        -   Length.—Outer/Large: 4.0 cm Inner/Small: 2.7 to 3.2 cm.        -   Width.—Outer/Large: 2.4 cm Inner/Small: 0.8 cm.        -   Shape.—Outer sepals broad elliptic, inner sepals elliptic.        -   Aspect.—Upwardly cupped.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire, ruffled.        -   Color.—When opening: Interior Surface: Near RHS Green-White            157D, veins near Red-Purple 70A. Exterior Surface: Near RHS            Green-White 157D, veins near Red-Purple 70A. Mature:            Interior Surface: Near White N155A, veins and margin near            Red-Purple 70A. Exterior Surface: Near White N155A, veins            and margin near Red-Purple 70A. Flushing near apex 70A.            Aging: Interior Surface: Near White N155A, veins and margin            near Red-Purple 70A. Flushing near apex 70A. Exterior            Surface: Near White N155A, veins and margin near Red-Purple            70A. Flushing near apex 70A.-   Nectaries (modified petals):    -   -   Quantity.—Average 4 to 6.        -   Shape.—Tubular.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A, flushed Greyed-Purple            N186A.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.-   Fragrance: None detected.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—Approximately 30 per flower.        -   Filament length.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Filament color.—Near RHS Green-White 157C.-   Anthers:    -   -   Length.—0.1 cm.        -   Shape.—Linear.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-White 158D.        -   Pollen.—Amount: Scant. Color: Near RHS Yellow-White 158D.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—Typically 4 to 6 per flower.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.7 cm.        -   Style color.—Near RHS Green-White 157C.        -   Style length.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Club shape. Color: Near RHS Greyed-Purple            N186A.        -   Ovary.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144C.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease and pest resistance: Not observed to be susceptible nor    resistant to normal diseases and pests of Helleborus Typical pests    include Aphid and Thrips. The most common fungal disease is    Coniotyrium hellebore. The Genus is also known to suffer from    various Nematodes, as well as Pythium, Phytophtora and Rhizoctonia.-   Temperature tolerance: Typically USDA Zones 3 to 9.-   Fruit/seed production: Not observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Helleborus plantnamed ‘MONOBYRN2’ as herein illustrated and described.